Capsule handling machine



Oct. 29, 1963 v. c. HALL c :APsuLE HANDLING MACHINE 15 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 14, 1957 MSN m N @hr1 Oct. 29, 1963 v..HA1 L 3,108,712

CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 14, 1957 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENMR. 171'617'01' 6'. /Yll ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 29, 1963 v. c. HALL 3,108,712

CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 14, 195'? 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 30@ i.' 16g 51 196 z /l'ff '131 kan@ 134' ,f ww. 1214 6P m 'm I 'gw l 3 s i -1 @4r 65 .50 ll INVENTOR.A

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Oct. 29, 1963 v. c. HALL CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 14, 1957 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 MQNLN.

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Oct. 29, 1963 v. c. HALL CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE onginal Filed oct. 14, 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR. I/ior 6'. Hail, BY

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 29, 1963 V. C. HALL CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 14, 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 lll@ INVENTOR. 30 V12-iai' f/ail,

Y ifm/M MMM ATTORNEYS.

Get. 29, 1963 v. c. HALL CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 14, 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 VHP IJG 11 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 29, 1963 v. c. HALL 3,108,712

CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 14, 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG-.14'.

INVENTOR. Vicio/f li,

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Oct. 29, 1963 v. c.HA1.L 3,108,712

CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE' originai Filed oci. 14, 1957 i 1:5 sheets-sheet 9 IN VEN TOR.

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0d. 29, 1963 v. c. mlm.` l 13,108,712

Original Filed Oct- 14, 1957 15 'aegis-sheet 10 0d. 29. 1963 v. c; HALL 3,108,712l

cAPsuu: 11m11.111s ummm original inea oct. 14. 1951 13 sheets-sneer 11 ff@ 114 uw QQ-1 L56 ,a g 156 V 116 @En H5 oct. 29, 1963 v. c. HALL l 3,108,712

CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 14, 1957 v -13 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O M 3,108,712 CAPSULE HANDLING MACHINE Victor C. Hall, Media, Pa., assigner, by mesne assign-l This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 689,858, now issued into Patent No. 2,962,851.

This invention relates to a mach-ine for handling capsules, and more particularly concerns an automatic machine yfor applying a seal to the overlapping area of the two shell like portions of a conventional pharmaceutical capsule or the like.

It has 'been conventional yfor many years for manufacturers to put up certain medicines in capsules. One type of capsule employed consists of two cylindrical sleeves, each having an open end and having a semi-spherical closed end. The two sleeves fit slidably one within the other. In illing such a capsule, the manufacturer generally iills the smaller sleeve with the medicine, usually in the form of small particles or powder and then the larger sleeve is slipped over the smaller sleeve and remains in position :by reason of the frictional forces between the sleeves.

It is a relatively simple matter to separate the sleeves from one another after the medicinal substance has been incorporated into the capsule. This may be accomplished by simply sliding the sleeves apart. In this manner it is possible to remove the medicinal substance and to substitute another substance in its place. This substitution may be made with respect to all or only a part of the medicinal substance originally contained in the capsule.

When a valuable medicine is sold in capsule -fortm as outlined above, there is always the danger that an unscrupulous person will separate the sleeves of the capsule, remove all or a part of the valuable medicine, and substitute milk sugar or some other substance. It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for making a capsule which is sealed in the area where the sleeves are engaged with one another, providing a seal which is essentially tamper-proof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus `for making a sealed capsule having a band composed of a substance other than the material of the capsule envelope, such band being essentially tamper-proof.

Entirely independently of the matter of sealing a capsule, it is important to provide a machine for handling capsules -without causing an inadvertent separation of the smaller sleeve from the larger sleeve. In a Wide variety of capsule-handling operations, the danger is always present that, the respective sleeves of the capsule being kept together by frictional forces only, if the capsules are not handled gently or if they are subjected to a substantial amount of vibration, they are apt to become separated with the result that the medicine contained in the capsule is spilled. Frequently such spillage 'results in a clogging of the machine, causing an expensive and annoying shutdown. It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide a capsule handling machine which is capable of handling the capsules in large volume and which is so gentle in its action that the danger of separation of the capsule sleeves is eliminated.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a capsule handling apparatus having capacity for placing a plurality of bands around the cylindrical portions of the capsule, which bands may serve as identilication bands 3,198,712 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 ICC independently of the sealing `function heretofore discussed. Other objects and advantages of this invention, including the simplicity and economy of the same, as well as the ease with which it may ibe adapted for a variety of uses, will further become apparent hereinafter and in the 'drawings whereof:

n FIG. 1 is a front view showing a machine which constitutes one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the machine shown in FIG. 1, lookin-g lfrom the right;

FIG. 3 is another lend view of the machine shown in FIG. l, looking from the left;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the right hand portion of the machine shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the left hand portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, of a hopper and elevating @device which is shown particularly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the elevator device in a lifted position;

FIG. 8 is a view `of a portion of the elevator device, looking as indicated by the lines and arrows VIII-VIII which appear in FIG. l;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, considerably enlarged, taken as indicated by the lines and arrows IX*IX which appear in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken -as indicated by the lines and arrows X-X which appear in FIG. 7;

'.FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a repeating singlecapsule feeder, looking generally as indicated by the lines and arrows XI-XI which appear in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 1l, showing the parts of the apparatus in diierent relative positions which are assumed in the course of the operation of the device;

FIGS. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are sectional views taken as indicated by the lines and arrows XIII-XIII, XIV-XIV, XV-XV and XVI- XVI which appear in FIGS. 11 and 12;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken through the capsule banding device, this view being taken as indicated by the lines and arrows XVII-XVII which appear in FIG. 4;

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic View showing a portion .of the capsule banding device in perspective, parts being shown in section, and -further showing the connection between this por-tion of the device and the apparatus which causes the operation of the conveyor;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view in perspective showing a portion of the capsule banding apparatus, illustrating how the band is applied to the capsule; Y

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken transversely through the band-hardening portion of the apparatus, this view being taken as indicated by the lines and arrows XX- XX which appear in FIG.v 4;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary view in perspective, enlarged and with certain parts shown in section, in order to illustrate more clearly the construction and operation of this portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 22 is a view in perspective showing a portion of the conveyor which constitutes -a portion of this apparatus;

FIG. 23 is an exploded view of the conveyor portion illustrated in FIG. 22, certain parts being broken away and shown in section in order more clearly to illustrate important details;

FIG. 24 is a front View of a transfer device illustrated at the upper left hand portion of themachine in FIG. 1; FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows XXV--XXV which appear in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a view in perspective showing one form' of capsule which may be banded in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 27 shows a capsule similar to that appear-ing in FIG. 26, having a band applied thereto;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a modified form of the apparatus, showing how capsules are oriented end-forend; Y

FIG. 29 is a view similar to the FIG. 28 of the capsuie orienting device, further illustrating its operation;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 13 showing a modiied form of the single capsule feeding device Which comprises a unit of the machine;

FIG. 31 is a view similar to FIG. 14, showing such modified single capsule feeding device with the parts shown in a capsule retaining position;

FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 3l with the parts separated in order to place the capsule on its conveyor;

FIG. 33 is a view similar to FIG. 32, showing the capsule deposited on the conveyor;

FIG. 34 is a view in perspective of the capsule depositing parts of the unit;

FIG. 35 is an end view of a modified form of capsule banding device, such View being taken in a manner similar to FIG. 17;

FIG. 36 is a plan section, showing the modification also illustrated in FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is a sectional View taken as indicated by the lines and arrows XXXVII-XXXVII which appear in FIG. 36; and

FIG. 38 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the apparatus appearing in FIG. 37, showing how the banding wheel rotates the capsule as the band is applied.

Turning now to the specilic form of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-5 thereof, the machine is supported on a supporting framework S9 upon which is a horizontal table l.

The number 52. comprehensively designates a hopper and feed apparatus which is connected to an inclined delivery tube 53 which in turn is connected to deliver capsules to a repeating, single-capsule delivery unit comprehensively designated 54.

The single-capsule delivery unit 54 is arranged irnmediately above a continuous horizontal capsule conveyor 55, and is manged to place individual capsules thereon. Spaced toward the exit end ofthe conveyor 55 is a roller S6, and beyond the roller 56 is a capsule banding apparatus comprehensively designated 57. The conveyor S5, after passing the capsule banding apparatus 57, passes beneath a capsule band-hardening apparatus compre-V hensively designated 60. At the exit end of the hardening apparatus 69 is a transfer wheel 6l, which is constructed and arranged to pick up individual capsules and to deposit them on a capsule product conveyor 62.

It will be observed from FIGS. l-5 that the component parts of the apparatus which have just been described broadly are all operated from a common drive source, here shown as the motor 63. The motor 63 is connected through chains 64, 65 to shafts 66, 67 and then through gears and other chains to operate the aforementioned components, all in timed relation to one another.

Turning now in detail to the hopper and feed apparatus 52, this apparatus appears in particular detail in FIGS. 2 and 6-10. 'Ihe hopper has a plurality of substantially vertical walls 7i) and an inclined bottom 71 which is inclined downwardly toward the longest vertical hopper Wall 70. Means are provided, such as the funnel 72, for introducing a plurality of capsules into the hopper.

Driven from the common drive source is a large sprocket gear 73 having a fixed radial arm 74 pivoted at 75 to an elevating arm 76. The elevating arm 76 is pivoted at its upper end 77 to the bottom of an elevator plate S0 which is vertically arranged and which is thereby caused to reciprocate up and down between the adjacent vertical Walls 70, 70, below the inclined bottom 71, as indicated in FIG. 9.

The elevator plate 80 has a cam follower roller S1 which is connected to travel in a cam track 82, causing the elevator plate 80 to tilt forwardly as it is raised. This lis an important and advantageous feature of this invention, as will further become apparent hereinafter.

The upper surface 83 of the elevator plate 80 has the shape of an elongated trough or passage shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the capsule being handled. Accordingly, when the elevator plate 80 is elevated and inclined, as indicated in FIG. 7, the capsules C slide down the upper surface 83, under the inuence of gravity.

It will be :apparent from lFIGS. 9 and l0- that, when the elevator plate 89 is rising, some of the capsules contained in hopper are retained on lthe upper surface 83, while other surplus capsules must be removed from that surface. The apparatus includes a pivoted plate portion S4 which is pivoted at S5 and spring-urged by means of a helical spring 86 inwardly toward the interior portion of the hopper 52,. The plate 84 has an angle iron 87 provided 'with a stop member 90, which serves to limit lthe movement of the plate 84, inwardly toward the capsules.4 It will .be appreciated that the plate 84 is normally inclined inwardly as illust-rated` in FIG. 9 of the drawings, pushing off the surplus capsules, but when the elevator plate 80 moves upwardly as illustrated in FIG. l0, the elevator plate Si) swings .the pivot plate 84 foutwardly,`thereby permitting further upward movement of the elevator plate 80 so that a clean row of individual capsules, aligned 'on the upper surface 83 of the elevator plate Sti, may be delivered yby gravity.

As appears more particularly in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the capsules delivered from the hopper are caused to slide by gravity downwardly into the inclined delivery tube 53, which is 4connected near the bottom of the hopper, at the lowermost edge of the elevator plate 80.

As shown in FIG. 2. of the drawings, the inclined capsule delivery tube 53 is provided with a plurality of holes 91 which permit ventilation or breathing as the capsules move downwardly through the tube. l y

The apparatus and method of handling capsules, as just `discussed herein, is particularly advantageous since the capsules are handled Very gently without any sacrifice of speed of handling. Capsules which consist of two members slidably interfitted with one another are prone to become separated when they are subjected to vibration 'or other undue mechanical forces. The .apparatus in accordance with this invention Ahandles the capsules 'much more gently than other apparatus heretofore available, because of the cooperation between Ithe elevator plate 89, its cam operating mechanism, its shape and inclined upper surface, and the positioning and arrangement yof the spring-urged pivoted plate portion 84.

Located at the bottom of -the inclined delivery tube 53 just above the capsule conveyor 55, is the repeating, single capsule ldelivery unit 54. This unit appears in more particular detail in the `drawings at FIGS. 2, 4 and 11- 16, which show a repeating, single capsule delivery unit 54 which is operated from the central -drive unit by -a specially shaped -cam 92. (FIG. 2) which operates a cam follower lever 93 pivotally connected to a lever arm 94. The upper portion of lever arm 94 appears in FIGS. 1l and 12 and it is connected to rock an actuator arm 95 which is pivoted about a fixed pin 96. As is seen in FIGS, l1 to l5, actuator arm 95 pivotally supports a pair `of upstanding links 97 which are pivotallly con nected at their upper ends to a head 109. Head 1&9 supports a rod 161 which has'its lower end extending into .a tubular projection which leads to the end 102v of delivery tube 53. Rod 101 is provided with a stop collar 1&3 that is arranged to meet the upper end of the projection to stop the movement of `the lower end of rod lill. As the actuator arm 95 rocks, the rod 191 reciprocates downwardly and upwardly toward and away from the capsule C which is located at the end 102 of the delivery tube 53. At the end of its downward stroke the rod -'1 makes contact with the capsule C and holds the capsule C against dropping out of end 102.

As appears more particularly in FIG. 14, a pair of capsule carrying sections 104 are each pivoted around a pivot screw 105. Each section 104 is provided with a narrow bore 106 and a wider bore 107, such bores appearing in more particular detail in FIGS. 13 and 15. The wider bores 107 are positioned closer to delivery tube 53 than the narrow bores 106.

Means are provided for swinging vthe capsule carrying sections 104, 104 toward and away from open and closed positions. These means include link arms 110 which `are connected to the ends of actuator arm 95 and are also connected to ear members 111 which eX- tend from the -sides `of sections 104. The connection between link arms 110 and ear members 111 is a pivotal connection so that when link arms 110 move upwardly, the sections 104 swing apart, and when link arms 110 move downwardly, the sections 104 swing together to closed position. Also provided is a tension spring 112 which is connected between the sections 104 and urges them to their closed posi-tion. It will be apparent that, as the actuator arm 95 swings up and down, the ear members 111 are drawn up and ydown in timed relation with the movement `of rod 101 so that when rod 101 is in contact with the capsule C in the end 102 of delivery tube `53 the sections 104 Aare caused to swing open to Ithe position illustrated in FIG. 16, thereby releasing a capsule hereto-fore icon-tained. in the bores 106, 107, causing such capsule to fall downwardly onto the conveyor 55.

As appears in FIGS. l, 2, 13, 14, 22 and 23 of the drawings, the capsule conveyor 55 comprises a plurality of individual capsule carrying sections 114 each of which is mounted yon -conveyor chain 115 (FIG. 14) for movement therewith. Each capsule carrying section 114, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 22 and 23, is attached to a base portion 116 which is provided with an upstanding rigid plate 117 that guides the vertical motion of section 114 and prevents section 114 from canting to one side or the other. Section 114 is connected to base portion `116 by pin 119, the head of which abuts the shoulder of bore A120, which screws into the base of bore 123. A spring 121 is positioned around pin 119 within bore 123 to urge the capsule carrying section 114 away from base portion 116.

Accordingly, each capsule carrying section 114 4is resiliently movable up and down toward and away from the base portion 4116, and is prevented from moving rearwardly by the upstanding rigid plate 117.

Each carrying section 114 has a semi-cylindrical upper surface portion 122 which is `arranged to receive and to carry an individual capsule. The capsule conveyor 55, which is `operated from the same mechanical source fas the repeating single capsule delivery unit 54, is advanced in timed relation to the reciprocating movement of the delivery unit 54, such that each :time the delivery unit 54 opens it deposits a capsule upon the hollowed upper capsule carrying surface 122 of the capsule carrying section 114 which is then located precisely below the delivery unit `'54.

In accordance with one preferred form of this invention, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 28 and 29 of the drawings, means are provided for lorienting the capsules so Ithat they are all deposited on `the conveyor with the same orientation. Some capsules are provided which have their outer, larger diameter sleeves either longer or shorter than `their inner, smaller diameter sleeves, and it is desirable yto `re-orient the randomly fed capsules so that Iall of the longer portions are arranged at one side of the conveyor and all of the shorter portions are arranged at the other side of the conveyor.

However, when the capsules yare of such proportions 6 that Ithe cylindrical end of the outer sleeve is substantially at the mid-axial position of the capsule (substantially as shown in FIG. 27), it is not necessary to orient the capsules since the center of each capsule is brought to a location at Ithe center of the capsule carrying section 114, regardless of orientation.

In accordance with the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29 of the drawings, a re-:orienting rod 1230 supported by frame 129 is arranged below and to -the side of the capsule carrying sections 104, 104 of delivery unit 54 and is positioned just outside and below the open end of bore 107. It vwill be apparent from IFIG. 28 that, when a capsule C is delivered from the inclined delivery tube with its inner sleeve entering into the bores 106, 107 ahead of the outer sleeve, the capsule enters completely into said bores vand is dropped onto the conveyor 55 without touching the re-orienting rod 1530. However, as shown in FIG. 29, when the capsule C enters the bores with its outer sleeve rst, the capsule C penetrates only part way into the bores 106, 107 and in tact does not enter into lthe narrow bore 106. When the capsule is subsequently dropped by the operation of the delivery unit 54, its inner sleeve strikes the re-orienting rod 130, causing the capsule to take a one-half turn as it drops to the conveyor. Thus turned, the capsule is oriented in the same manner as the capsule shown in FIG. 28 of the drawings, but it is displaced slightly laterally because of the re-orienting function of the rod 130 in conjunction with the operating characteristics of the narrow and wide bore portions of the re-orienting apparatus.

Orientation `of the capsules is used .when 'the capsule seal is to be applied at a location other than the longitudinal center; also when a non-central identification band is to be applied. When the orienting rod 130 is used, the single-capsule delivery unit 54 is positioned at a greater height, as is evident trom a comparison of FIGS. 15 and 16 with FIGS. 28 and 29.

-As appears in particular detail in FIG. 4 (also FIGS. 17, 12) of the drawings, plates 137 have guiding edges 138 forA causing the capsules C, after they have been droppedonto the conveyor 55 to move laterally in the capsule carrying sections 114 so that the capsules C are in alignment. The roller 56 then forces the capsules firmly down into their cups' 122.

The capsules C which are thus oriented and aligned on1 the conveyor 55 are conducted one by one to the capsule banding apparatus comprehensively designated as 57, the details of which are more particularly apparent in FIGS. 1, 4, 17 and 18 of the drawingsl The capsule banding Iapparatus comprises generally a member forming a. reservoir 133 having a transverse shaft 134, 134 extending through -a lower portion thereof. The shaft carries a serrated wheel which passes through a slot at the bottom of the reservoir and which communicates with the liquid L contained in the reservoir. The serrated wheel 135 also extends down below the bottom of the reservoir, to a level slightly below the uppermost level assumed by the capsules C `as they pass beneath the reservoir on the conveyor 55. Y

The shaft 134 is driven through gears 131, 132 which are driven from the common drive mechanism for the entire apparatus.

As will be more particularly apparent in FIG. 17 of the drawings, the serrated edge of 'the wheel 135 contacts the capsules C in the gener-al area where the capsule sections come :together and overlap one another. As the conveyor 55 passes beneath the serrated wheel 135, the serrated edge which has taken up a supply of liquid from the reservoir 133, applies that liquid to the surface of the capsule. The lower portion of the serrated wheel 135 is rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the capsule with the conveyor, and accordingly the rotation of the serrated wheel 135 causes the capsule C to rotate in its cup 122. Accordingly, a band of liquid L is applied around the entire periphery of the capsule C.

The capsule C is contained in a cup 122 which, as heretofore described, is resiliently shiftable up and down with respect -to the conveyor, whereby the capsule has capacity to yield with respect to the surface of the serrated Wheel, thereby avoiding damage to the capsule yas the band of liquid L is applied. This action is illustrated in particular V detail in FIG. 19 of the drawings.

=It is also advantageous that, because of the resilient mounting of the capsule cup, the banding wheel can rotate each capsule several times, insuring complete application of the banding material. This Ialso enables the banding wheel to rotate relatively slowly, which thus causes the capsule to rotate relatively slowly, resulting in gentle handling yand avoidance of injury to the capsule or separating its parts.

As will be apparent in FIGS. 17 and 18 of the drawings, 4the capsule banding apparatus 57 alsoy includes a pair of depressible plate members 140 which are pivoted to plate 137 iat -pins 141. Plates 137 contact the ends of capsules C during 'the banding operation and keeps the capsules C in alignment., r[his insures the formation of an accurate band which extends in a truly circular manner around the capsule.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, means are provided for depressing the plate members 140, causingr them to contact the top of capsule carrying sections 114 to depress them in order to lower the capsule C to a location spaced below the bottom of the serrated wheel 135, when the apparatus is stopped. This removes the capsule from contact with the banding wheel, avoiding possible damage to the capsule, but permits the banding wheel to continue to rotate, eliminating clogging of the liquid banding material.

The control of the apparatus for starting and stopping is ldiagnarnmatically shown in FIG. 18 and includes a handle 142 which is turned to cause the conveyor to start or to stop, according to the desire of the operator. Handie 142, when swung to the oif position, closes a switch 143 energizing the coil 1.44ct a solenoid valve 145, thereby admitting air pressure into a cylinder 1%, swinging a 'lever arm 147 causing the depression of a rod 15!) which is connected to the arms 151 which are pivoted at 152 to the 4depressible plate members 140. This operation depresses the capsule carrying section 1.14, and removes the capsule C from the serrated wheel 135 when the apparatus is stopped. Conversely, when the handle 142 is swung to the on position, the solenoid coil 144 is de-energized, the air is shut olf, and a spring 153 causes the depressible plate actuating mechanism to move the plates 140 upwardly parallel to the plates 137.

The liquid L may be composed of any desired chemical or combination of chemicals, which may be hardened either by simple cooling, by evaporation, or by cooling combined with evaporation or by any other hardening operation. Capsule band hardening apparatus 611` appears in particular :detail in FIGS. l, 4, 5, 20, 21, and includes an air supply line 154 which supplies air or the like to an elongated tube 155 positioned over the capsules C on conveyor 55 as the capsules leave `capsule banding apparatus 57. Supports 156vprovide support for hinges 158 which are athxed to tube 155, and hinges 158 may he rotated to the position shown by the dot-dash :lines of FIG. 201 lfor cleaning and other purposes. However, in operation air is passed through axially elongated holes 159 in tube 155 to impinge upon the capsule band to dry it. To insure complete and even drying of the band, the capsule C are rotated by the action of rubber strips 160 which are positioned intermediate plates 157 attached to hinges 158. The lower edges of the rubber strips 161) rotate the capsules Cas the capsules are advanced b-y the conveyor 55. Application of the air to the capsule band causes it to harden. The rubber strips 166' together with the elongated tube 1-55 coact to form a gas space above the capsules, through which cold au or the equivalent is caused to flow. Hinges 158A are pivoted at 161 to provide access to the apparatus.

The capsule transfer wheel mechanism 61 is shown more .particularly in FIGS. 1, 5, 24 and 25, and includes a wheel 163 rotatable on an axle 164. At equally spaced intervals around its periphery, wheel 163 is provided with a plurality of capsule carrying cups 165 each having bores 1166 extending into wheel 163 to connect fwith an internal vacuum passage 167. The number 16S designates a vacuum plate having lan arcuate vacuum passage 169 which is `connected to a suitable source of vacuum, and which is also connected to a predetermined numfber of internal passages 167. A pressure plate 170, springs 171, and iixed bearing block 172 urge vacuum plate 168 linto close contact with wheel 163. Vacuum line 173 supplies a vacuum to arcuate vacuum passage 169. The apparatus includes gears and drive mechanism all driven from the common 4drive source, in timed Irelation to the progressive movement `of the capsule C through the apparat-us. The capsule C is picked from section 114 by cup 165 of wheel 163, and the vacuum remains on the capsule until it is ydeposited. in capsule carrying section 174 of product .conveyor 62.

The drive mechanism of the apparatus is illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 1-5 and 17. rIhe drive mechanism for conveyor 55 includes the motor Iand gears 63, which through .a pulley (FIG. 3), a ibelt 181, and a pulley 132, drives a shaft 183 to which chains 64 and 65 are connected. Chain 64 is connected to a sprocket hub 184 (FIG. 1) which rotates freely on shaft 66 and which is adapted to ibe engaged by a slideable clutch 185 (FIG. 5) that is splined to shaft 66. Shaft 66 is rotated by the motor when clutch handle 142 (FIG. 5) is moved so that clutch lever 148 brings clutch 185 into engagement with hub 184. VFixed on shaft 66 is a worm gear 186 which drives la gear 187 that is fixed to a cross shaft 168. This drives sprocket 189 (FIG. l) to drive yconveyor chain 115 which is trained about sprocket 139 `and idler sprocket 1911.

The drive for the transfer wheel mechanism 61 includes (FIG. 5) the shaft 138 which has a bevel gear 191 which meshes with a bevel gea-r 1132 iixed on shaft 193. On the other end of shaft 193 is a bevel gear 194 which meshes with a gear 195 that is iixed on vertical shaft 196. The upper end of shaft 196 has a bevel gear 197 (FIG. 3) which meshes with a bevel lgear 198 to drive shaft 164.` carrying the transfer wheel 163.

The drivemechan-ism for conveyor 62 includes shaft 188 (FIG. 5) which drives a `chain 199 lwhich in turn drives a shaft 20) to which is iixed a sprocket 201 (FIG. 1) which drives the conveyor' 62. l

The idrive (for capsule banding apparatus '57 includes the chain 65 (FIG. 1) which drives input shaft 67 of a gear reducer 2012. An output shaft 293 has iixed to it a gear 204 which meshes with another gear 2415 to which a sprocket is Exe-d which drives la chain 206. Chain 206 drives gear 131 (FIG. 3) which meshes with gear 132 to drive ser-ated rwheel 135.

The drive mechanism for hopper and feed apparatus 52 includes a shaft 66 (FIG. 2) 'which drives a chain 208 and a shaft 209. Shaft 209* drives yanother chain 21% to drive the sprocket 73 of the hopper and feed apparatus 52.

FIGS. 30-34 show la modified form of the single-capsule feeding device, wherein the respective capsule handling members 104 `are provided at their upper inner surfaces, above their capsule carrying bores, with a plurality of downwardly curved iingers 2311-'. Each such iin ger 236 cooperates with a corresponding slot 231 formed in the surface ott the corresponding member 104, permitting the members 104, 164 to swing about their pivots without interference from the fingers 230.

As appears in particular detail in FIGS. 32 and 33, the fingers 236 `operate to force each capsule gently but positively out of the ycapsule bore, for movement down- 9 Wardly to the conveyor. This avoids any difficulty due to sticking lor jamming of a capsule in the delivery unit, and assures the laccurate timing on? the fall of the capsules with the positioning and movement of the conveyor oups.

FIGS. 35-38 show a modiiied form of the capsule banding unit of the machine, wherein the serrated band-ing 1wheel 240 has serrations 241 arranged in spaced groups, separated by :depressed smooth peripheral surfaces 242. This, as shown enlarged in FIG. 38, enables the banding wheel 240 to obtain a strong -grip on each capsule, elimimating the possibiliity of relative slippage in applying the band, assuring positive rotation of the capsule as indicated by the arrow appearing in FIG. 38.

As shown in FIG. 37, the banding fluid is retained in a reservoir 243, displaced relative to the shaft 134, along the path of movement of the conveyor. The reservoir bottom and sides are arranged in a V-shape, as appears in FIG. 36, providing wiping surfaces of limited length on both sides of the serrated wheel 240. The block in which the wheel 240 rotates is cut out adjacent the wheel 240 to provide a free space 244, and no banding liquid is contained in such space.

The reservoir construction shown in FIGS. 35-38 is particularly advantageous since there is no dripping of the banding liquid on the capsules or conveyor, and since any suitable filling device such as the liquid dropping device 245 may readily be incorporated into the unit to replenish the reservoir continuously.

It will be appreciated that, in its operation, the machine according to this invention is fully automatic and self-tending, and that it handles capsules with a speed never before attained Without breaking, crushing capsules or causing separation of their parts. The capsule feeding hopper and feed plate 52 and delivery tube 53 are constructed and arranged to coact with the singlecapsule delivery unit 54 to deliver capsules', one at a time, at a high rate of speed (with or without orientation), to the capsule conveyor. On the conveyor, the capsules are gently aligned in their resiliently supported cups and are contacted rmly by the serrated banding Wheel while their cups move yieldably downwardly. In their further travel along the conveyor, the capsules are exposed to conditions which continuously and gently cause the hardening of their bands, all at a very high production rate and in a continuous operation.

Although thisv invention has been described with reference to specific forms of apparatus, and specific forms of methods for carrying out the invention, it will be appreciated that a wide variety of changes may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those specitically shown in the drawings, parts may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be used independently of other features, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a capsule handling and orienting machine for capsules each having an end portion of relatively small diameter and an end portion of larger diameter, a repeating capsule feeder having a reciprocating capsule retaining device constructed for alternately holding and releasing each capsule, said retaining device having a pair of shaped elements movable toward and away from one another to retain and release said capsules, said shaped elements together forming a cavity having a horizontal bore provided at one end with a restricted section having a diameter less than said larger capsule diameter but as large as said relatively small capsule diameter, and said bore having at its other end a4 diameter as large as said larger capsule diameter, means for feeding capsules endwise into said bore such that capsules fed with the small diameter end first may penetrate fully into the bore but capsules inversely arranged are stopped by said restricted bore section, and a tripping means in definite spaced relation to said shaped elements for re-orienting said capsules in one of said positions but not the other, when said shaped elements are moved to release said capsules, said tripping means comprising an obstruction placed in the path of fall of said capsules which have been fed in one of said positions, but removed from the path of fall of said capsules which have been fed in the other of said positions.

2. The machine as delined in claim 1 wherein said obstruction is a rod placed below those capsules which have been fed with their larger ends ahead of their smaller ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 495,201 Jones Apr. 11, 1893 572,376 Roberts Dec. l, 1896 573,560 Whitmarsh Dec. 22, 1896 751,308 Land Feb. 2, 1904 868,989 Kent Oct. 22, 1907 949,647 Colbert Feb. l5, 1910 1,195,571 Flaherty Aug. 22, 1916 1,280,585 Taylor Oct. l, 1918 1,581,022 Saylor Apr. 13, 1926 1,649,365 Poling et al Nov. l5, 1927 1,773,867 Saviano Aug. 26, 1930 1,993,716 Hanley et al Mar. 5, 1935 2,420,299 Campbell May 13, 1947 2,682,253 Scherer et al. Iune 29, 1954 2,754,860 Moore et al. July 17, 1956 2,772,792 Lakso Dec. 4, 1956 2,813,615 Klein Nov. 19, 1957 2,846,830 Bossi Aug. 12, 1958 2,944,333 Francis et al. July 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,849 Italy Aug. 22, 1935 519,438 Italy Mar. 14, 1955 

1. IN A CAPSULE HANDLING AND ORIENTING MACHINE FOR CAPSULES EACH HAVING AN END PORTION OF RELATIVELY SMALL DIAMETER AND AN END PORTION OF LARGER DIAMETER, A REPEATING CAPUSLE FEEDER HAVING A RECIPROCATING CAPSULE RETAINING DEVICE CONSTRUCTED FOR ALTERNATELY HOLDING AND RELEASING EACH CAPASULE, SAID RETAINING DEVICE HAVING A PAIR OF SHAPED ELEMENTS MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER TO RETAIN AND RELEASE SAID CAPSULES, SAID SHAPED ELEMENTS TOGETHER FORMING A CAVITY HAVING A HORIZONTAL BORE PROVIDED AT ONE END WITH A RESTRICTED SECTION HAVING A DIAMETER LESS THAN SAID LARGER CAPSULE DIAMETER BUT AS LARGE AS SAID RELATIVELY SMALL CAPSULE DIAMETER, AND SAID BORE HAVING AT ITS OTHER END A DIAMETER AS LARGE AS SAID LARGER CAPSULE DIAMETER, MEANS FOR FEEDING CAPSULES ENDWISE INTO SAID BORE SUCH THAT CAPSULES FED WITH THE SMALL DIAMETER END FIRST MAY PENETRATE FULLY INTO THE BORE BUT CAPSULES INVERSELY ARRANGED ARE STOPPED BY SAID RESTRICTED BORE SECTION, AND A TRIPPING MEANS IN DEFINITE SPACED RELATION TO SAID SHAPE ELEMENTS FOR RE-ORIENTING SAID CAPSULES IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS BUT NOT THE OTHER, WHEN SAID SHAPED ELEMENTS ARE MOVED TO RELEASE SAID CAPSULES, SAID TRIPPING MEANS COMPRISING AN OBSTRUCTION PLACED IN THE PATH OF FALL OF SAID CAPSULES WHICH HAVE BEEN FED IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS, BUT MOVED FROM THE PATH OF FALL OF SAID CAPSULES WHICH HAVE BEEN FED IN THE OTHER OF SAID POSITIONS. 